Opening Day at Fenway Park
The Baltimore Orioles and Boston Red Sox have similar MLB odds after finishing as the bottom two teams in the American League East last season.
Now the two teams get to start their seasons off against one another with plenty of hope for various reasons in each dugout. It does not feature a star pitching matchup as one would typically expect, but there will be opportunities for powerful lineups to debut.
Top Prospect to Start for Orioles
The awaited arrival of Gunnar Henderson in the Baltimore Orioles clubhouse eventually came last September, and now he will be an everyday fixture in the lineup. He looks to make a broader impact on a lineup that was 20th in scoring at 4.16 runs per game last season.
With Henderson joining the ranks, the Orioles are set to have their younger core on the infield make an impact in a lineup led by veteran outfielders Cedric Mullins and Anthony Santander. There is a balance between speed and power that will make the Orioles a tough matchup.
The next piece of MLB news is when top pitching prospect Grayson Rodriguez will get his call-up to Baltimore after he was sent down following spring training. The Orioles were tied for 16th with 4.25 runs per game allowed last season and did not do much to improve their pitching.
Kyle Gibson is 35 years old and he gets the Opening Day start for Baltimore. He was 10-8 with a 5.05 ERA and 144 strikeouts in 167.2 innings pitched last season with Philadelphia.
Red Sox Hoping Fresh Faces Provide Spark
The Boston Red Sox had an eventful offseason in which they let longtime shortstop Xander Bogaerts walk and signed star third baseman Rafael Devers to a healthy extension. They acquired Adalberto Mondesi, who will start on the Injured List alongside fellow middle infielder Trevor Story.
Thursday’s starter, Corey Kluber, was another addition to the group. Veteran closer Kenley Jansen and another veteran in Chris Martin were signed to bolster a bullpen, presumably allowing Tanner Houck and Garrett Whitlock to start games. They hope to improve a pitching staff that was 25th in allowing 4.86 runs per game.
Boston’s offense was ninth last season in scoring 4.54 runs per game. The Red Sox added powerful slugger Adam Duvall to the outfield and signed Masataka Yoshida, who drew comparisons to Juan Soto. Justin Turner will be a helpful addition due to early injuries.
Orioles vs Red Sox Game Injuries
Orioles vs Red Sox Head-to-Head
The Boston Red Sox won the last two series of 2022 and finished winning five of the last six meetings against the Baltimore Orioles. Scores and odds show the under was 4-2 in those games.
There have been plenty of games between the two sides over time. The Red Sox have won 1,256 regular-season games while the Orioles have won 1,030. Boston has a +1,082 run differential, too. Historically, MLB picks have been good for the Red Sox.
Orioles vs Red Sox Game Information
- Game: Orioles (0-0) vs Red Sox (0-0)
- Location: Fenway Park, Boston
- Day/Time: Thursday, Mar 30, 2:10 p.m. ET
- Orioles vs Red Sox Live stream: MLB.tv
Orioles vs Red Sox Betting Lines
Orioles vs Red Sox Picks and Prediction
The MLB lines favor the Boston Red Sox, and being at home always gives a sense of confidence. Though the Baltimore Orioles swept the opening series in Boston in 2021, which preceded nine straight wins by Boston.
But the sportsbook seems to think the Red Sox will be OK. After all, Kluber worked out well for the Tampa Bay Rays last season, and the veteran and former Cy Young winner heads to an organization with a similar philosophy under general manager Chaim Bloom.
Far removed from his glory days, Kluber was 10-10 with a 4.34 ERA last season but pitched to plenty of contacts. Gibson has been known to give up plenty of home runs, and the Red Sox lineup is still mighty powerful. We like the pitching matchup for the Red Sox better while the offenses are even.
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Orioles vs Red Sox Edge
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Orioles vs Red Sox Game Summary
